Breeder Spotlight: Pleasant Hill Longhorns

Our next Breeder Spotlight is Dylan Pfizenmaier of Pleasant Hill Longhorns.

Our next Breeder Spotlight is Dylan Pfizenmaier of Pleasant Hill Longhorns.

Dylan grew up showing Angus and Shorthorn cattle from the age of eight but, it was not until October of 2009 Dylan decided to begin his own Texas Longhorn herd after his parents gave him the “go ahead” to begin. Renting pasture from his parents and grandparents he made his first longhorn purchase of a cow/calf pair and from that point on he has kept growing his herd now consisting of over 50 head and featuring household names like Cowboy Chex, TCC Raisin Cane, and raising DJP Black Pearl a favorite among the longhorn breeders.

Over this past year, Dylan has tried to up his game in producing high-quality prospect animals. “As a production breeder, you have to be producing young stock that is going to gain the interest of other producers or breeders. This past year, trying to analyze what my bloodlines were, and how I could make them better. In doing so, I have opted to try artificially inseminate a few of my heifers. Having this resource available could prove to be beneficial, but I wanted to start small first. Nutrition has also been something that I have tried to rework over the

past year. I have tweaked my bull grower ratio a lot to find “the perfect recipe” and I think I am getting close to that.”

Speaking from experience, for some new breeder’s pasture management is harder to begin and even harder to keep going. When asked what pasture management tool Dylan uses this was his response: Like most producers that run their animals on grass, I try to reduce my stocking rate so

it is adequate for the acres in each pasture. Regular rotational grazing is another tool I utilize to give the grass a second to catch up and remain nutritional for my cattle. As far as weed management and control, I spray and burn. It’s difficult to stay on top of weed in the pasture, but both spraying and burning have helped.

When asked what is one thing you would have liked to have learned earlier in the industry? Whether it be showing, pasture management or breeding decisions they replied “When I first started, I wish I would've had a better understanding of pedigrees and names of animals that were popular at the time I started. In the long run, it would have set me up for quicker success.”

We want to thank Dylan Pfizenmaier of Pleasant Hill Longhorns for taking the time to give their knowledge to all! Our next breeder spotlight will be on January 14th featuring Kathy Lewis and Russell Clements of 1 Bar 7 Longhorns.